michael wrona | Horse Racing Free Tips

Australia: Purse Money, Prestige In Abundance This Week

Fans of top-quality Australian racing will experience sensory overload this Friday night, with prestige and purse money in abundance at Sydney (Rosehill) and Melbourne (Flemington) tracks.

Sydney's slate of rich, new races continues with the third running of the Golden Eagle. Rosehill Racecourse has long hosted the world's richest 2-year-old race, the Golden Slipper. More recently, the track introduced a million-dollar race for 3-year-olds called the Golden Rose. This Friday night's Golden Eagle, for 4-year-olds at 7-1/2 furlongs, is the nation's 3rd-richest race with a whopping $7.5 million purse. The 18-strong field (plus four Also Eligibles) features a geographic plethora of form lines:

#1 Private Eye (5-1) is a last-start winner of Sydney's G1 Epsom Handicap. #2 I'm Thunderstruck (7-2 favorite) is a last-start winner of Melbourne's G1 Toorak Handicap. #13 Maximal (10-1) is one of three northern hemisphere 3-year-olds making his Australian debut (with a two-pound weight allowance versus the Australian horses, who turned four on August 1st). Maximal is a ¾-brother to Frankel, with imposing form lines in Ireland and England. The strongly credentialled import had been heavily bet in futures wagering, but his odds drifted back up from 7-1 after he drew the extreme outside gate.

The 6-1/2 furlong Classique Legend Stakes features six horses who contested the world's richest turf race The Everest two weeks ago, including 2nd-placed #2 Masked Crusader (5-2 favorite) and 3rd-placed #1 Eduardo (7-2). #9 Top Ranked (20-1) is a new shooter who was G1-placed in England but – like Maximal in the Golden Eagle – has drawn the extreme outside gate for his Aussie debut.

While Sydney is the unquestioned capital of racing innovation, purists consider Friday night's card at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse to perennially be the best in Australia. Known as “Derby Day,” the all-graded stakes program (Track B) includes four Group Ones averaging 16 horses:

Race 5: The Empire Rose Stakes is for fillies and mares at a mile. #3 Tofane (5-2 favorite) is a three-time Group One winner at seven furlongs. This campaign, she is targeting mile races and comes off a strong 2nd to Golden Eagle favorite, I'm Thunderstruck.

Race 6: The Victoria Derby, Australia's oldest Classic, dates to 1855. Its 1-9/16 miles provides a stern stamina test just three months into the southern hemisphere season. No runners have raced beyond 1-3/8 miles. #1 Forgot You and #4 Gunstock share favoritism at 3-1 and give every indication – on performance and breeding – of staying the distance. Gunstock must overcome a horror post position with a short run to the sharp first turn.

Race 7: The Coolmore Stud Stakes, for 3-year-olds, will provide a great spectacle on Flemington's famous “Straight Six”-furlongs course. #9 Extreme Warrior (7-2 equal favorite) has burst onto the scene this campaign with impressive wins in a maiden and Group Three. #4 In the Congo (9-2 into 7-2 in the immediate aftermath of the field being finalized) won the Golden Rose in Sydney a month ago and adds blinkers. #6 Paulele (5-1) was considered for Godolphin's slot in The Everest. #5 Home Affairs (11-1) did contest The Everest, as the race's lone 3-year-old. Coolmore's colt adds a shadow roll and tongue tie, as his owners strive to win this stallion-making race that carries their sponsorship.

Race 8: The Kennedy Cantala Stakes is a wide open, one-mile contest whose 7-2 favorite, #14 Mr Brightside, has never contested a Group/Graded race. Supporters will look on the bright side and point to his six consecutive wins while cutting a swath through restricted ranks.

Look for a special preview of Monday night's $8 million Melbourne Cup, the two-mile “race that stops a nation.”

The Rosehill and Flemington cards will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:20pm ET / 6:20pm PT) alongside cards from Eagle Farm and Ascot. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, DRF Bets and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.

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Australia: A Rich Invitation For Fillies & Mares At Randwick

Randwick Riches: “Royal Randwick” races for the fourth straight Friday night this month, continuing an Oktoberfest of top-quality stakes action at the iconic track located just four miles from downtown Sydney. Last week's successful staging of The Everest drew a crowd of largely under-30s, which should be the envy of any racing jurisdiction. While The Everest was run for just the fifth time, this Friday night sees further innovation with the introduction of a brand-new race, The Invitation.

The Invitation: A $2 million race for fillies and mares trained in Australia or New Zealand. A panel convened by Racing New South Wales extended invitations to an elite dozen fillies and mares. Contested at seven furlongs, The Invitation will be the 9th of ten races this Friday night with a post time of 11:35pm Pacific. Randwick is Track “A.”

RSVP: Of the dozen who accepted their invitation, favoritism will be held by #6 Entriviere (9-5). Trained by New Zealand's most successful modern-day conditioner, Jamie Richards, this lightly raced 5-year-old debuted only 13 months ago. Since winning five of six in her homeland, Entriviere has a win from three Australian starts – with legitimate excuses for her two minor placings. Most recently, she was the beaten favorite in the G2 Golden Pendant, but raced in season (southern hemisphere Spring) and was ridden negatively from the outside gate. Her closing splits were the best of the day for seven furlongs at Rosehill. #7 Vangelic was the 5-1 Golden Pendant winner (and my Pick of the Night on TVG). Vangelic is again attractively priced at 7-1 for The Invitation, but meets Entriviere four pounds worse at the weights and will find it tougher to hold out the New Zealand mare on the roomier Randwick layout. Also at 7-1 is another hard-luck story from the Golden Pendant, #10 Icebath. After her close 4th-place finish, she suffered an even worse trip in the G1 Epsom Handicap (this time a losing Pick of the Night on TVG). Icebath has, in fact, been a luckless racehorse throughout her career and is thoroughly deserving of a rich prize. However, she now has to cut back from a mile while making her fifth start this campaign, whereas most rivals are fresher and specifically targeting The Invitation. Rain is predicted for race day, which would enhance Icebath's prospects.

Selection: #6 Entriviere

Longshot: #8 Rocha Clock (20-1) had a troubled trip resuming from a layoff, has excellent 2nd-up stats and is recommended for all exotics.

Supporting Stakes: Yet another relative newcomer to Sydney's racing calendar is the Bondi Stakes, a million-dollar race for 3-year-olds at a mile. #1 Hilal upset #2 Coastwatch in a recent G2 event. After being 8-1 and even-money respectively on that occasion, the pair are 5-2 equal favorites for this third running of the Bondi Stakes, Race 8 on Friday night's card. Should the track come up soft, #3 Royalzel (8-1) enters right into calculations.

Hot Trainer: Chris Waller's work with The Everest winner, Nature Strip, earns him the plaudits from last week. Waller has dual representation in The Invitation with #1 Madam Rouge (25-1) and #2 Nudge (12-1); he also puts the polish on Bondi Stakes co-favorite Coastwatch.

The Randwick card will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:30pm ET / 6:30pm PT) alongside cards from Doomben, Kembla Grange and Gold Coast. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, DRF Bets and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.

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Australia’s The Everest: Horse-By-Horse Preview Of World’s Richest Turf Race

The Everest: World's richest turf race (AU$15 million), inaugurated in 2017. Slot-holder format; field restricted to 12; six furlongs. Track “A,” Race 7 this Friday at 10.15 p.m. Pacific.

The Setting: Randwick hosts a third straight Friday night of top-quality racing – the temporary rail was out 16 feet last week and moves into the “true” position (0') for The Everest. Rain is predicted across the week; race day could be windy, in which case it can be advantageous to be “covered up” in running.

The Broadcast: Nick Hines will anchor TVG's coverage; Sky Racing's Jason Witham will be on-track at Randwick; yours truly will weigh in via Skype. First Post: 9:30pm ET / 6:30pm PT.

The Field: All runners carry 128 pounds, except the mare Libertini (124) and the 3-year-old Home Affairs (116). Post positions in parentheses.

#1 Nature Strip (10) 7-2. The world's highest ranked turf sprinter. 17 wins from 32 starts. Prodigiously gifted, Nature Strip was enigmatic earlier in his career. Under Chris Waller's patient tutelage, the horse is finally balancing his brilliance with tractability and professionalism. Has finished 4th and 7th in The Everest; this third time could deservedly be the charm.

#2 Classique Legend (5) 7-2. Went to Hong Kong (where his owner is based) after winning The Everest last year, but failed to acclimate. 83-year-old training legend Les Bridge got his “gray flash” home again in June, and is training him up to the race (used two prep races in 2020). Tries to emulate Redzel, who won the first two editions of this race; jockey Kerrin McEvoy is a common denominator, and shoots for a remarkable fourth win in five runnings of The Everest.

#3 Eduardo (7) 5-1. The world's second-highest ranked turf sprinter; has twice out-gamed Nature Strip in photo finishes. He was a scintillating G1 winner in March when 2nd-up from a layoff, prompting a similarly timed attack on The Everest.

#4 Gytrash (1) 8-1. Pronounced GEE-trah. Finished 3rd in The Everest last year; desperately unlucky when 3rd last start behind Eduardo and Nature Strip. Career 25:10-6-7, with valid excuses for only two unplaced runs.

#5 Trekking (4) 30-1. Godolphin's aptly named representative is being given a third chance to reach the summit, after finishing 3rd and 4th the past two years. Veteran son of Street Cry needs the breaks, but is genuine and will be closing.

#6 Masked Crusader (9) 8-1. Ran 2nd behind Nature Strip in an April G1 race; has produced exhilarating rushes from the rear to win two of three starts this campaign, in slightly easier company.

#7 Wild Ruler (11) 50-1. Would have been an exotics chance on firm ground from a good gate, but has neither.

#8 The Inferno (12) 25-1. Star sprinter-miler in Singapore in 2019-20. Caught fire in Melbourne last month with a G2 win and close G1 2nd. Has never raced clockwise; hard task after being dealt the “visitor's draw.”

#9 Embracer (3) 70-1. Late replacement for the slot-holder whose Rothfire was sidelined by injury. Outclassed and impossible to embrace.

#10 Lost And Running (2) 20-1. Was hot when running through the grades earlier this year; snapped up early by his slot-holder. Albeit with some excuses, has been more lost than running in both starts this campaign against top-level competition.

#11 Libertini (8) 30-1. A dangerous weapon when fresh, this mare has deliberately been set for The Everest off a layoff. Has overcome a recent, minor setback. Knockout potential, but prefers firmer footing.

#12 Home Affairs (6) 10-1. Coolmore is replicating the formula that won them The Everest with Yes Yes Yes in 2019 – a (newly turned, on August 1st) 3-year-old colt trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Glen Boss. Home Affairs brilliantly won his seasonal debut, before holding his own in a workout versus Waller's Nature Strip.

Selection: #4 Gytrash

Wagering Strategy: Gytrash win/place; 20c trifecta 2, 4 / 1, 2, 3, 4 / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10

The Final Word: Coolmore's Tom Magnier: “Full credit to Racing New South Wales. They planted the seed for The Everest and it grew into a tree from Day One.”

The Randwick card will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:30pm ET / 6:30pm PT) alongside cards from Eagle Farm, Newcastle and Gold Coast. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, DRF Bets and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.

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Australia: The Everest Summit Is One Week Away

Everest Update: The Everest, the world's richest turf race, is just one week away. Last year's winner Classique Legend used a prep race prior to The Everest last year but is being trained up to the race in 2021. This Thursday afternoon, U.S. time, he has a crucial “barrier trial” (training race from the gate) with major Everest contender and last start winner, Eduardo so keep your eyes on Sky Racing World socials for a replay of the trial. Three Everest slots remain open, owned by Godolphin, Coolmore and James Kennedy. Godolphin's Paulele is entered in Friday night's 5th race and remains under consideration for The Everest.

Friday Night's Feature Race: Race 8, the G1 $1,000,000 Spring Champion Stakes, for 3-year-olds at 1-1/4 miles. Wagering is headed by the exacta horses from the traditional prep race, the Gloaming Stakes, along with a filly who caused a massive Group One upset just last week. The trio can keep close tabs on each other, as they break from adjoining gates.

Hefty Price Tag: Profondo is Italian for “deep,” which describes the pockets belonging to the owner who paid $1.9 million for this colt. More likely, the name pays homage to his late sire, the Japanese racetrack-and-stud sensation Deep Impact (by Sunday Silence). Unraced as a 2-year-old, Profondo debuted with a seven-furlong maiden win on September 1st, before stepping up to nine furlongs in the G3 Gloaming Stakes. Sent off favorite, Profondo raced a bit keenly before hitting the front in the stretch, only to throw the race away by ducking in sharply. He lost narrowly to the more seasoned Head Of State (a son of American Pharoah), and the pair will be neighbors in the starting gate for Friday night's much-anticipated rematch. #1 Head Of State (gate 9) is 7-2, while #2 Profondo (gate 10) is 2-1 favorite.

Fillies Trending: While only three fillies have won the Spring Champion Stakes (first run in 1971), those wins have all come in the past five years (including 2020 winner, Montefilia, who won last week's G1 Metropolitan Handicap as a 4-year-old). #11 Never Been Kissed will attempt to replicate Montefilia's feat of last season, by winning the G1 Flight Stakes and the G1 Spring Champion Stakes “double.” Never Been Kissed was let go at 60-1 when winning the one-mile Flight versus her own sex. She is 4-1 third choice for Friday night's assignment against colts and is drawn directly inside Head Of State in gate 9.

Selection: #2 Profondo

Supporting Stakes: Race 7, the Silver Eagle, is a $500,000 race for 4-year-olds and up at 6-1/2 furlongs. The program also features a pair of Group Two races and a pair of Group Threes. Friday night's 10-race card attracted a total of 140 entries (including Also Eligibles). First Post is 6.35pm Pacific.

Hot jockey(s): Reagan Bayliss was last Friday night's star, increasing his career Group One win total from three to five (Epsom Handicap and Flight Stakes). Hugh Bowman deserves an honorable mention for reaching a special milestone: by winning last week's other G1, the Metropolitan, Bowman became just the fourth Australian rider to register 100 Group One victories (exactly one quarter of Bowman's came aboard Winx).

The Randwick card will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:35pm ET / 6:35pm PT) alongside cards from Gold Coast, Eagle Farm and Goulburn. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, DRF Bets and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.

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